October 30, 2007

Twelve years ago, on a moonlit rooftop above Washington Square, Lyla Novacek (KERI RUSSELL), a sheltered young cellist, and Louis Connelly (JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS), a charismatic Irish singer-songwriter, were drawn together by a street musician's rendition of "Moondance" and fell instantly in love. Sharing the language of music, their connection was real and undeniable...but short-lived.

After the most romantic night of her life, Lyla promised to meet Louis again but, despite her protests, her father (WILLIAM SADLER) rushed her to her next concert - leaving Louis to believe that she didn't care. Disheartened, he found it impossible to continue playing and eventually abandoned his music while Lyla, her own hopes for love lost, was led to believe months later that she had also lost their unborn child in a car accident.

Years past with neither of them knowing the truth.

Now, the infant secretly given away by Lyla's father has grown into a spirited and unusually gifted child (FREDDIE HIGHMORE) who hears music all around him in the rhythms of life and can turn the rustling of wind through a wheat field into a beautiful symphony with himself at its center, the composer and conductor. Orphaned by circumstances, he holds a profound and unwavering belief that his parents are alive and want him as much as he wants them - if only they could find each other.

Determined to search for them, he makes his way to New York City. There, lost and alone, he is beckoned by the guitar music of a street kid playing for change and follows him back to a makeshift shelter in the abandoned Fillmore East Theater, where dozens of children like him live under the protection of the enigmatic Wizard (ROBIN WILLIAMS). That night, he picks up a guitar for the first time and unleashes an impromptu performance of his own unique style.

Astonished that this untrained boy can play so passionately, Wizard names him August Rush, introduces him to the soul-stirring power of music and begins to draw out his extraordinary talent. Wizard has big plans for the young prodigy but, for August, his music has a more important purpose. Never giving up hope of finding the parents he knows are out there somewhere, he calls out to them through every note. He believes that if they can hear his music, they will find him.

Unbeknownst to August, they have already begun that journey.

Having just learned her son is alive, Lyla is already working desperately to locate him with the help of dedicated social worker Richard Jeffries (TERRENCE HOWARD) while Louis, still haunted by memories of his one true love, finds himself returning to his musical roots and retracing his steps to the place where they met.

Separated by the events of life but bonded by love and music, Lyla, Louis and August search for what they lost and what will make their lives complete again...each other.